Question

Stem cutting is commonly performed for plants like
A. Rose
B. Mango
C. Sugarcane
D. Both A and C

Answer 1

Hint: Stem cutting is a process in which a portion of a stem that includes twigs, one or more nodes is removed from a parent plant and has the ability to develop into a new plant.

Complete answer:
- Stem cutting is a type of artificial vegetative propagation method of asexual reproduction in plants. In this method, a part of a stem from a parent plant is cut and planted in the soil.
- Sometimes, these stem cuttings are treated with hormones to induce the root development. The adventitious roots will be developed from the cutting that later forms a new plant.
- Plants like roses, grapes, sugarcane, bougainvillea, citrus, ocoa, carnations, durant and many other plants are commonly developed by stem cutting methods.
- Herbs like mint, rosemary, thyme, herbaceous annuals, creepers and climbers and flowering trees like gliricidia etc can be grown by stem cutting.

Therefore the correct answer is (D) Both A and C.

Additional information:
There are different types of stem cutting. They are-
1. Softwood cutting: They are usually done in unripe tips of woody plants like ornamental shrubs and trees. Soft cuttings are made below the node and the bottom leaves are removed. Example: Duranta
2. Herbaceous cuttings: The cuttings are taken from the herbaceous plants such as chrysanthemum, dahlias, carnations etc. they are of 2.5 to 10cm long.
3. Semi-hardwood cuttings: In this type, the cuttings are taken from immature portions that are green and hard. They are 10 to 15 cm long. Example: jasmine.
4. Hardwood cuttings: They include cuttings from shrubs and trees that are taken from mature woody growth. They are 15 to 30 cm long. Example: hibiscus.
5. Terminal cuttings: This type of cuttings are taken from the tip portion of the shoots.
Heel cuttings: they are the portion of the stem obtained by pulling off the lateral shoots of the stem.

Note: In hydroponics, stem cutting is one of the most common methods of cloning plants. The offspring are identical to the parent plant. The main advantage in this method is that the favourable traits are passed on to the offsprings for many generations. This is an economically beneficial method as it ensures consistency throughout the crops when cloned by commercial growers.